Agricultural machine with spreader

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an agricultural machine having a frame and a supply hopper mounted on the frame. The frame has four ground wheels and a resiliently mounted drawbar which is vertically adjustable relative to the frame. The frame includes a plurality of support beams and struts so that a heavy load can be carried in the hopper. Resilient elements are associated with the ground wheels and frame to absorb shocks when the machine is moved over uneven ground.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Ian Archie MacKinnon Burlington,Ontario, Canada [21] Appl. No. 735,761 [22] Filed ,|unel0,1968 145]Patented July 20,1971 [731 Assignee Lely Ltd.

Burlington, Canada [32] Priority June 16, 1967,1211. 15, 1968 [331Netherlands [31 1 67,08369 and 68,00580 [54] AGRICULTURAL MACHINE WITHSPREADER 19 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/176, 280/489 [51] Int. Cl A0lc 19/00 (50] Field 01'Search 222/176,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1945 Black 2,590,9624/1952 Gurton et a1 280/489 X 2,966,369 12/1960 Paul, Jr 280/4892,609,212 9/1952 McMurtrie 280/124.1 X 3,218,083 11/1965 Van Der Lely eta1 239/675 3,300,223 l/l967 Vissers 222/176 3,365,103 1/1968 Van DerLely et a1 222/176 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,406,017 6/1965 France 289/4891,357,102 2/1963 France 280/489 1,407,799 6/1964 France 280/489 272,4473/1951 Switzerland 280/489 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. TollbergAssistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Attorney-Mas0n, Mason, and AlbrightABSTRACT: The invention relates to an agricultural machine having aframe and a supply hopper mounted on the frame. The frame has fourground wheels and a resiliently mounted drawbar which is verticallyadjustable relative to the frame. The frame includes a plurality ofsupport beams and struts so that a heavy load can be carried in thehopper. Resilient elements are associated with the ground wheels andframe to absorb shocks when the machine is moved over uneven ground.

PATENTEU JUL20 m: 3 5 93' 8 9 0 SHEET 3 BF 3 AGRICULTURAL MACHINE WITHSPREADER The invention has for its object inter aliato provide a simple,easily controllable machine of the kind set forth.

In accordance with the invention this can be achieved by arranging aspring mechanism between the drawbar and the frame for exerting a forceon the drawbar in upward direction relative to the frame.

In a simple embodiment of the machine according to the invention thespring mechanism is formed by a torsional rod spring. An advantageousembodiment of the machine according to the invention can be obtained byproviding the supply hopper with an outlet port in the proximity ofwhich a spreading member is arranged. The machine can be effectivelyused for distributing, for example, fertilizers, on land.

In a further embodiment of the machine according to the invention theground wheels are each movable independently of the other andresiliently fastened to the frame. The material carried in the supplyhopper is thus exposed only to a slight extent or not at all to shocksof the machine during a travel across, for example, a field. A simple,robust frame capable of supporting a large hopper can be obtained in afurther embodiment of the machine according to the invention by using anelongated hopper tapering in downward direction viewed in a verticalsectional view, the frame comprising a frame beam extending along thenarrow bottom side of the hopper and being secured thereto.

The invention furthermore relates to an agricultural machine comprisinga frame and a supply hopper arranged on said frame, said frame beingprovided with two pairs of ground wheels and a drawbar adjustable in adirection of height relative to the frame and serving to draw themachine, while between the drawbar and the frame there is arranged atleast one shock absorber. In this way the movements of the machinerelative to the prime mover, for example, a tractor, are attenuated sothat a more quiet travel of the machine across uneven land is ensured.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same maybe readily carried into effect, reference is made by way of example tothe accompanying drawing.

FIG. I is a side elevation of an agricultural machine accord ing to theinvention for spreading material.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the machine shown in FIG. I in the direction ofthe arrow II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the frame of the machine shown in FIG. I, thesupply hopper and the spreading member beingomitted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV in FIG. I of part ofthe machine.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a further machine embodying the inventionfor spreading material.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the frame of the machine shown in FIG. 5, thehopper and the spreading member being omitted.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a detail of the machine shown inFIG. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the leaf spring connection betweenthe frame and the drawbar.

The machine comprises a frame 1, supported from four ground wheels 2,3,4and 5. The frame comprises a U-shaped frame portion extending in ahorizontal plane and having limbs 6 and 7, forming longitudinal beams,and a front beam 8. To the lower sides of the longitudinal beams 6 and 7are secured transverse beams 9 and 10. Viewed in the direction of travel11 of the machine a ground wheel axle 12 is arranged in front of thetransverse beam 9 and rigidly secured to the frame. Cranks l3 and 14 arearranged at the ends of the axle 12 so as to be rotatable to the latter.The wheel 2 is secured to the end of the crank 13 and the wheel 4 isfastened to the end of the crank 14. Near the crank 13 the end of theaxle 12 is surrounded by a helical spring 15, one end of which isinserted into a tag 16, secured to the axle 12. The other end of thespring 15 is secured to the crank 13 so that the spring tends to urgethe crank down relative to the axle 12. As described for the crank 13,the crank 14 is providedwith a helical spring 18. An axle 119 isarranged in front of the transverse beam 10, viewed in the direction oftravel 11, said axle having cranks 20 and 21, to which the ground wheels3 and 5 respectively are secured. In the same manner as is described forthe crank 13, the cranks 20 and 21 are connected with springs 22 and 23,which surround the ends of the axle 19.

Centrally above the transverse beams 9 and 10 a supporting beam 25 isconnected by means of struts 26 and 27 with the ends of the beam 9. Thesupporting beam 25 is connected with the beam 10 by means of struts 28and 29, which extend from the beam 25 obliquely downwards towards theends of the beam 10. Above the supporting beam 25 a supporting beam 30extends, viewed in the direction of travel 11, from the rear side of thecentral beam 25 obliquely upwards and, viewed in the direction of travel11, furtherto the front than the supporting beam 25. The supporting beam25 extends over a distance 31, which is equal to the distance betweenthe beams 9 and 10. Between the front side of the supporting beam 25 andthe supporting beam 30 a strut beam 32 is provided. The beam 30 isfurthermore connected with the beam 25 by means of supports 33, 34 and35. To the supporting beam 30 is secured an elongated hopper 36,provided with lateral supporting beams 37 and 38. The longitudinaldirection of the hopper extends parallel to the direction of ravel 11.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the hopper has a V-shaped cross-sectional area,tapering in downward direction, the narrow bottom side bearing on thesupporting beam 30. The lateral supporting beams 37 and 38 extend fromthe beam 30 along the oblique sides 39 and 40 of the hopper 36 up to theupper side thereof. The hopper 36 is rigidly secured to the lateralsupporting beams 37 and 38 and to the supporting beam 30. The lateralsupporting beams 37 and 381 are connected with the beam 30 near thesupports 34. Midway in the direction of length the beams 37 and 38 arefurthermore held by lateral supports 4| and 42, having the same shapeand comprising each two struts 41A and 418, as is shown for the support41 in FIG. 1. The lateral supports 41 and 42 are secured to thelongitudinal beams 6 and 7 near the fastening points of the beams 9 and10 said longitudinal beams.

The hopper 36 is held over a distance 43 by the beam 30, whereas at thefront the hopper extends over a distance 44 beyond the beam 30 and overa distance 45 on the rear side. The distances 44 and 45 areapproximately equal to each other and equal to about one third of thedistance 43. The upper side of the hopper walls are provided withinwardly bent over rims 46 to 49. The rear rim 48 is slightly largerthan the front rim 49. From the corners of the upper side of the hoppersupporting rods 50 are secured to a supporting rod 51, located centrallyabove the hopper. The hopper 36 comprises in its lower space a wormconveyor 52, which is driven from a box 53 having transmission membersand an ingoing shaft 54. The worm conveyor 52 extends throughout thelength of the hopper bottom.

As is shown in FIG. 4, a hood 55 is arranged above the worm conveyor 52so as to extend throughout the length of the hopper 36. Between thesidewalls 39 and 40 and the hood 55 material can flow towards the wormconveyor 52. The hood 55 prevents the material carried in the hopperfrom bearing by its full weight on the worm conveyor 52. The hopper 36is provided near the rear side with an outlet pipe 56, which is providedwith a dosing member 57. Beneath the outlet pipe 56 a spreading member58 is arranged and supported by a vertical shaft 59, journaled in a gearbox 60. The gear box 60 is held by a supporting :frame 61, which isconnected with the beam 10 so as to be pivotable about shafts 62 and 63.On the rear side of the supporting frame 61 a coupling member 64 isarranged by means of which the supporting frame can be fixed relativelyto the frame. The coupling member 64 is connected with a bracket 65,which embraces the supporting frame 61 and is connected with the ends ofthe longitudinal beams 6 and 7. Between the shaft 54 and the ingoingshaft 66 of the gear box 60 an intermediate shaft 67 is connected by auniversal joint with the shaft 66. The universal joint has its centerlocated on the line of connection between the pivotal shafts 62 and 63.

On the front side the frame is provided with a drawbar 68, whichcomprises two forwardly converging beams 69 and 70, which are providedwith a coupling hook 71. The beams 69 and 70 are connected ,by means ofpivotal shafts 72 and 73 with the front beam 8. A supporting beam 74 isarranged between the beams 69 and 70. The ends 75 and 76 of a torsionalrod 77 are coupled with the ends of the supporting beam 74. Thistorsional rod is connected at the center to the beam 8 by means of asupport 78.

When the machine is put into use, it is coupled by means of the couplingmember 71 with a prime mover, for example, a tractor. The power takeoffshaft of the tractor may be connected by means of an auxiliary shaftwith the driving shaft 54. The torsional rod 77 exerts on the drawbar 68a force in the direction of the arrow 80. Therefore, the upward movementof the drawbar 68 for attaching it to the tractor requires littleenergy. When the machine is moved, for example, over a field, materialcan be fed from the hopper 36 via the dosing member 57 to the spreadingmember 58. The quantity of the material fed per unit time to thespreading member 58 can be regulated by means of the dosing member 57.During the distribution of the material the spreading member 58 isdriven from the shaft 54 via the intermediate shaft 67 and thetransmission gear of the gear box 66. The material is thus spread over awide strip and mainly in rearward direction. Inside the hopper the wormconveyor 52 is driven via the transmission of the box 53 so that aconstant flow of material from the hopper to the outlet pipe 56 isensured. The spreading member thus receives a uniform flow of material,which can thus be distributed uniformly over the area concerned. Owingto the arrangement of the wheels 2 to 5 on cranks which are pivotallyand resiliently connected with the frame, the shocks of the machineoccurring during its travel, for example, across land, will be absorbedso that the frame is loaded less heavily. Owing to the resilientconnection of the wheels with the frame no vigorous jolts of the machinewill occur during its movement. The material in the hopper 36 is thusprevented from becoming too compact or from dissociating its granularstructure. Particularly when the hopper is filled with granularmaterial, for example fertilizer, jolts might provoke a separationbetween large and small grains, which would adversely affect the unifonndistribution of the material. The resilience of the frame relative tothe ground wheels is therefore particularly advantageous when themachine is employed for distributing fertilizer on a field.

The size of the hopper is such that it can contain a quantity offertilizer of about 4000 kgs. In spite of the size of the hopper 36 theconstruction of the frame is simple in this embodiment. The frame beamsare formed substantially all by hollow pipes of rectangular section.

If desired, the dosing member 57 can be cleaned in an easy manner bydetaching the coupling member 64, after which the supporting frame 61with the spreading member 58 can be turned in downward direction aboutthe pivotal shafts 62 and 63. The dosing member is thus easilyaccessible. The rods 50 hold the hopper on the upper side and a cover,for example, wax-coated tissue may be passed over said rods forprotecting the hopper wholly or partly on the upper side.

Although in the embodiment shown the ground wheels 2 to 5 are resilientrelative to the frame by means of helical springs surrounding the groundwheel axles, a difi'erent construction may as an alternative be used forthe resilient arrangement of the ground wheels relative to the frame.

The machine shown in FIG. 5 and 6 corresponds essentially with themachine shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Similar parts are therefore designated bythe same reference numerals and not described in detail. In this machinethe front beam 8 is provided with a leaf spring 81, fastened by bolts82. The intermediate beam 74 is provided with a sleeve 83 havinginternal thread, into which a threaded rod 84 is screwed, which isprovided at the upper end with a crank 85. The threaded rod 84 islocated above the end of the leafspring 81 To the beam 69 is secured thelower end of a shock absorber 86. The shock absorber 86 is arrangedbetween the pivot 72 and the coupling hook 71 on the beam. From thedrawbar the shock absorber extends in upward direction and is pivoted byits upper end to a support 87, which is provided by the hopper 36. Inthe same way as shown for the shock absorber 86, a shock absorber 88 isarranged between the hopper 36 and the beam 68.

The height 94 above the ground is approximately equal to the overalllength 92 of the hopper. The hopper is resiliently held on the wheels 2to 5 by means of the springs 15, 18, 22 and 23. The two pairs of wheelssupporting the frame are located at a short distance from each other sothat the distance 89 between the wheel axles exceeds only little thediameter 90 of the wheels. The distance 89 is preferably not more thanL'A- times the diameter 90. In this embodiment the distance 89 is aboutl.2-times the diameter of the wheels. The hopper is arranged on theframe so that it extends over a distance 91 approximately equal to thedistance 89 in front of the axles of the front wheels 2 and 4. Thedistance 91 is about one third of the overall length 92 of the hopper36.

In operation the machine is moved by a tractor or a similar vehicle, forwhich purpose the coupling hook 71 can be attached to the tractor. Thiscan be carried out readily since the coupling hook 71 may be arranged ata level corresponding approximately with that of the point of attachmenton the tractor. The height 93 of the coupling hook 71 above the groundcan be adjusted by turning the threaded rod 84 in the threaded sleeve83. When the threaded rod 84 is turned, the drawbar 68 will turn aboutthe pivotal shafts 72 and 73 with respect to the frame 1. The drawbar 68is resiliently secured to the frame 1, since it bears by the threadedrod 84 on the end of the leaf spring 81, which exerts an upwardlydirection force on the drawbar. The drawbar 68 is furthermore connectedwith the frame by means of the shock absorbers 86 and 88 via the hopper36. The movements of the drawbar 68 with respect to the frame 1 are thusattenuated by the shock absorbers 86 and 88.

The connection of the drawbar 68 with the frame by means of thespring 81and the shock absorbers in particularly advantageous in agriculturalmachines moved across uneven soil. The resilient connection of thedrawbar 68 by means of the leaf spring 8] with the frame 1 and theattenuation of the movements of the drawbar 68 relative to the frame bymeansof the shock absorbers 86 and 88 provide an optimum stable couplingbetween the machine and the prime mover, for example, a tractor. Thestable position of the machine is particularly desirable in anembodiment in which the machine serves for spreading material. In orderto distribute the material as uniformly as possible on the field, thespreading member 58 should maintain an optimum horizontal positionduring the travel of the machine across the field. This stable positionof the spreading member 58 with respect to the ground is also improvedby the stable, substantially jolt-free run of the machine.

Thereto contributes furthermore the resilient support of the machine bymeans of the helical springs l5, 18 22 and 23, surrounding the axles 12and 19. By supporting the machine by means of two pairs of wheels, whichare comparatively near each other, and by supporting the hopper, whichextends far to the front, by means of said connection between thedrawbar 68 and the frame the coupling between the prime mover and themachine will not give rise to undesirable swinging movements of themachine. Owing to this way of supporting the abrupt downward movement ofthe drawbar 68 relative to the frame, whereas the springs 96 prevent anabrupt upward movement of the drawbar 68 relative to the frame.

in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the leaf spring in with the screwspindle 84 is replaced by a leaf spring 97, one end of which is insertedinto an eyelet 98, which is secured to the intermediate beam 74. Theother ends of the leaf springs 97 are provided with a sleeve 99 havinginternal screw thread for receiving a threaded rod 100. The threaded rodMill is rotatably secured to the beam 8. At the upper end the rod 100 isprovided with an arm 101, which by means of a pawl-andratchet structure(not shown), can turn the rod 100 about its longitudinal axis. Thepawl-and-ratchet structure is such that the rod 100 may be turned atwill in one or in the other direction. The springs 97 bear on a support102, secured to the beam 8. By moving the sleeve 99 upwards or downwardsby turning the rod 100 the position of the drawbar 68 can be changedunder the action of the springs 97 relative to the frame.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An agricultural machine for spreading distributable materialcomprising a frame mounted on ground wheels, a V- shapd hopper supportedon said frame and a spreading member positioned beneath an outlet pipeof said hopper, said spreading member being mounted on a supportingframe which is movably connected to said frame, said hopper having anelongated shape with the long sides tapering downwardly towards oneanother, said frame including a supporting beam which extends along atleast part of the bottom of said hopper and said hopper being secured tosaid support beam, said frame further including a frame portion whichextends in a horizontal direction and is connected to said supportingbeam with strut means.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame portion issubstantially U-shaped, the limbs of said portion point ing to the rearof said machine and comprising longitudinal beams, said ground wheelshaving axles secured to said longitudinal beams, struts extendingobliquely upwards from said longitudinal beams towards the center ofsaid machine, said struts being connected with a further supporting beamwhich is secured to said first mentioned supporting beam.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein upwardly extending lateralsupporting beams support the sides of said hopper and said lateralsupporting beams are connected by means of lateral supports with saidframe portion.

4. An agricultural machine comprising a frame and a supply hoppermounted on said frame, said frame being supported on two pairs of groundwheels, said wheels being positioned approximately centrally of themachine and said frame including a horizontal frame part withinterconnected supporting beams positioned centrally between said hopperand said frame part, one of said supporting beams being positioned alongthe bottom of said hopper and a second supporting beam being locatedbelow said first mentioned supporting beam, a drawbar movably connectedto said frame part, said drawbar being vertically adjustable relative tosaid frame, at least one shock absorber being positioned between saiddrawbar and said frame, said drawbar being pivotally connected to saidframe and said shock absorber being positioned to engage said drawbarintermediate its ends, one end of said shock absorber being fastened tosaid drawbar to extend upwardly, the other end of said shock absorberbeing connected to said hopper.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper side of saidhopper has inwardly bent over rims and supporting rods are secured tosaid rims.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hopper extends over adistance beyond the foremost ground wheels of said machine, said shockabsorber being connected with the front end of said hopper.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein a compression 6 spring ismounted on said shock absorber.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said ground wheels areresilientl connected to said frame.

9. A machine as c aimed in claim 8, wherein the rotary axes of theforemost ground wheels are spaced apart from the rotary axes of the rearground wheels by a distance up to l%times the diameter of a groundwheel.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hopper extends beyondthe rotary axes of the foremost ground wheels over a distance which isapproximately equal to the distance between the rotary axes of theforemost and the rear ground wheels.

lll. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the height of said machineabove the ground is approximately equal to the overall length of saidhopper.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein two side-byside shockabsorbers are connected between the frame and said hopper.

113. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said drawbar isresiliently connected with the frame by a leaf spring posi' tionedbetween said draw bar and said frame, an adjusting member associatedwith said frame and said drawbar for vertically adjusting the positionof said drawbar relative to said frame.

114. A machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said adjusting member isa vertical screw spindle which cooperates with said leaf spring.

15. An agricultural machine for spreading distributable materialcomprising a frame and an elongated supply hopper with tapering sidessupported on said frame, said frame including parallel longitudinalbeams that support said sides of said hopper and a draw bar connected tothe front of said longitudinal beams, a centrally located frame beamextending along the bottom of said hopper and lateral support meansextend ing from said longitudinal beams to the approximate center ofsaid sides, said frame having four ground wheels arranged in pairs ontwo axles located one behind the other viewed in the direction oftravel, a spreading member mounted on a hinged frame part pivoted at therear of said frame and a bracket connecting said frame part to saidframe, at least one ground wheel being mounted on said frame withresilient means whereby said frame is vertically movable relative tosaid ground wheel.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 15 wherein all four of said groundwheels are independently mounted on said frame with resilient meanswhereby said frame is vertically movable relative to each ground wheel.

17. A machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein said ground wheels aremounted on cranks journaled in the frame, and springs are associatedwith said cranks adjacent said frame whereby said springs exert a forceon said cranks in a downward direction relative to said frame.

18. A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said springs are helicalsprings which surround the ground wheel axles and said axles are securedto the lower aspect of said frame, said cranks having parts extending tothe rear from their connection with said frame relative to the directionof travel.

19. An agricultural machine comprising a frame having parallellongitudinal beams and a supply hopper having a conveyor adjacent thebottom thereof and upright sidewalls sup ported on said frame, saidmachine having two pairs of ground wheels and a draw bar pivotablyconnected to the longitudinal beams of said frame, supporting beam meansconnected to said longitudinal beams between said pairs of groundwheels, said supporting beam means including lateral beams which extendupwardly along said sidewalls, said hopper having an outlet port and aspreading member mounted at the rear of said machine below said port,means for driving said conveyor and spreader including transmissionmeans at the front end of said hopper above said drawbar.

1. An agricultural machine for spreading distributable materialcomprising a frame mounted on ground wheels, a V-shapd hopper supportedon said frame and a spreading member positioned beneath an outlet pipeof said hopper, said spreading member being mounted on a supportingframe which is movably connected to said frame, said hopper having anelongated shape with the long sides tapering downwardly towards oneanother, said frame including a supporting beam which extends along atleast part of the bottom of said hopper and said hopper being secured tosaid support Beam, said frame further including a frame portion whichextends in a horizontal direction and is connected to said supportingbeam with strut means.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidframe portion is substantially U-shaped, the limbs of said portionpointing to the rear of said machine and comprising longitudinal beams,said ground wheels having axles secured to said longitudinal beams,struts extending obliquely upwards from said longitudinal beams towardsthe center of said machine, said struts being connected with a furthersupporting beam which is secured to said first mentioned supportingbeam.
 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein upwardly extendinglateral supporting beams support the sides of said hopper and saidlateral supporting beams are connected by means of lateral supports withsaid frame portion.
 4. An agricultural machine comprising a frame and asupply hopper mounted on said frame, said frame being supported on twopairs of ground wheels, said wheels being positioned approximatelycentrally of the machine and said frame including a horizontal framepart with interconnected supporting beams positioned centrally betweensaid hopper and said frame part, one of said supporting beams beingpositioned along the bottom of said hopper and a second supporting beambeing located below said first mentioned supporting beam, a drawbarmovably connected to said frame part, said drawbar being verticallyadjustable relative to said frame, at least one shock absorber beingpositioned between said drawbar and said frame, said drawbar beingpivotally connected to said frame and said shock absorber beingpositioned to engage said drawbar intermediate its ends, one end of saidshock absorber being fastened to said drawbar to extend upwardly, theother end of said shock absorber being connected to said hopper.
 5. Amachine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper side of said hopper hasinwardly bent over rims and supporting rods are secured to said rims. 6.A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hopper extends over adistance beyond the foremost ground wheels of said machine, said shockabsorber being connected with the front end of said hopper.
 7. A machineas claimed in claim 4, wherein a compression spring is mounted on saidshock absorber.
 8. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said groundwheels are resiliently connected to said frame.
 9. A machine as claimedin claim 8, wherein the rotary axes of the foremost ground wheels arespaced apart from the rotary axes of the rear ground wheels by adistance up to 1 1/4 times the diameter of a ground wheel.
 10. A machineas claimed in claim 8, wherein said hopper extends beyond the rotaryaxes of the foremost ground wheels over a distance which isapproximately equal to the distance between the rotary axes of theforemost and the rear ground wheels.
 11. A machine as claimed in claim4, wherein the height of said machine above the ground is approximatelyequal to the overall length of said hopper.
 12. A machine as claimed inclaim 4, wherein two side-by-side shock absorbers are connected betweenthe frame and said hopper.
 13. A machine as claimed in claim 4, whereinsaid drawbar is resiliently connected with the frame by a leaf springpositioned between said draw bar and said frame, an adjusting memberassociated with said frame and said drawbar for vertically adjusting theposition of said drawbar relative to said frame.
 14. A machine asclaimed in claim 13, wherein said adjusting member is a vertical screwspindle which cooperates with said leaf spring.
 15. An agriculturalmachine for spreading distributable material comprising a frame and anelongated supply hopper with tapering sides supported on said frame,said frame including parallel longitudinal beams that support said sidesof said hopper and a draw bar connected to the front of saidlongitudinal beams, a centrally located frame beam extending along thebottom Of said hopper and lateral support means extending from saidlongitudinal beams to the approximate center of said sides, said framehaving four ground wheels arranged in pairs on two axles located onebehind the other viewed in the direction of travel, a spreading membermounted on a hinged frame part pivoted at the rear of said frame and abracket connecting said frame part to said frame, at least one groundwheel being mounted on said frame with resilient means whereby saidframe is vertically movable relative to said ground wheel.
 16. A machineas claimed in claim 15 wherein all four of said ground wheels areindependently mounted on said frame with resilient means whereby saidframe is vertically movable relative to each ground wheel.
 17. A machineas claimed in claim 16, wherein said ground wheels are mounted on cranksjournaled in the frame, and springs are associated with said cranksadjacent said frame whereby said springs exert a force on said cranks ina downward direction relative to said frame.
 18. A machine as claimed inclaim 17, wherein said springs are helical springs which surround theground wheel axles and said axles are secured to the lower aspect ofsaid frame, said cranks having parts extending to the rear from theirconnection with said frame relative to the direction of travel.
 19. Anagricultural machine comprising a frame having parallel longitudinalbeams and a supply hopper having a conveyor adjacent the bottom thereofand upright sidewalls supported on said frame, said machine having twopairs of ground wheels and a draw bar pivotably connected to thelongitudinal beams of said frame, supporting beam means connected tosaid longitudinal beams between said pairs of ground wheels, saidsupporting beam means including lateral beams which extend upwardlyalong said sidewalls, said hopper having an outlet port and a spreadingmember mounted at the rear of said machine below said port, means fordriving said conveyor and spreader including transmission means at thefront end of said hopper above said drawbar.